literary
adjective
lit·er·ary
ˈli-tə-ˌrer-ē 
1
a
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of humane learning or literature
a literary education
a literary institution
b
: bookish sense 2
an essay written in a very literary style
c
: of or relating to books
a literary agent
a literary manuscript
2
a
: well-read
he is literary, given to quoting to himself rather long stretches of remembered lines—
F. J. Hoffman
F. J. Hoffman
b
: of or relating to authors or scholars or to their professions
her literary biographies
Examples of literary in a Sentence
Do his books have any literary merit?
Mystery fiction is only one of many literary forms.
an essay written in a very literary style
The author uses many literary devices in his work.
He entered the literary world right out of college.
She hired a literary agent.
Recent Examples on the Web
The comic is being translated and overseen by Frank Wynne, who for decades has been an award-winning writer and literary translator, but earlier in his career was a comics editor at Fleetway and Deadline magazine.
—Alex Dueben
july 21, Literary Hub, 21 July 2025
For hundreds of years, historians and literary experts have argued over why Chaucer would have mentioned the Song of Wade in his chivalric works.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
The Screenplay/Teleplay Award went to Gold Star, a lyrical Southern drama praised for its literary tone and exploration of grief, spiritual inheritance, and womanhood.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 17 July 2025
Smith outlines the critical necessity for a Black feminist literary practice that takes Black women’s experiences, aesthetics, and political conditions as central rather than marginal.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for literary
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Alex Dueben
july 21, Literary Hub, 21 July 2025
For hundreds of years, historians and literary experts have argued over why Chaucer would have mentioned the Song of Wade in his chivalric works.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
The Screenplay/Teleplay Award went to Gold Star, a lyrical Southern drama praised for its literary tone and exploration of grief, spiritual inheritance, and womanhood.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 17 July 2025
Smith outlines the critical necessity for a Black feminist literary practice that takes Black women’s experiences, aesthetics, and political conditions as central rather than marginal.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for literary
Cite this Entry
“Literary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literary. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
literary
adjective
lit·er·ary
ˈlit-ə-ˌrer-ē
1
a
: of or relating to literature
b
2
: of or relating to writers or writing as a profession
literarily
adverb
ˌlit-ə-ˈrer-ə-lē
literariness
noun
ˈlit-ə-ˌrer-ē-nəs
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